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10 Dec 2016 5:23:07am

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Stop the Press! Let’s take religion out of the discussion and see what happened.

Members of a group representing citizens met the PM to discuss various issues in Australian society (happens every day of the week). This meeting was organised by a political lobbyist (standard practice). Not all Australian’s have a high opinion of this group or agree with its values (sounds like a bank). The community attendees requested a more compassionate and caring Australia (well every group does but what evidence of doing good do they have?). The proceedings including the names of the groups attending were then published and opened for comment (rarely happens but this communication is good as it gives transparency).

Should we allow every or any group that represents Australians to speak to the PM or do we wish to restrict who the PM can meet? Who should decide who meets the PM and under what criteria, and what if your opinion differs from your neighbours? What is the threshold number of citizenry to get an audience? Should the majority say who gets an audience or should it be based on holding only Australian values (what are these values and whose value’s takes precedence)?

Do we wish to comply with all UN resolutions or just some?

Now try this. Swap religious groups (or the superstitious if you like) with another community/sport/cultural group/business (maybe the one that you identify with) - should we allow or ban your views from being represented to the PM because someone else does not like those views? Why are your view’s more important than someone else's?

To me while we may disagree with the view's of others we do have a pluralistic society so we need to live with each other and to not let them operate risks us becoming a totalitarian society.